In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential health benefits of natural substances such as blueberries, amino acids like glycine, and vitamins like vitamin C. Three recent studies have shed light on the potential health benefits of these particular elements, illustrating how they might support our hearts, joints and mental health.
Find out more in this article.
Blueberries benefit postmenopausal women with high blood pressure
A recent study investigated the potential menopause support and benefits to heart health of blueberries and their polyphenols in postmenopausal women with blood pressure readings above normal. The study, reported by NutraIngredients, was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial that lasted for 12 weeks. The researchers assigned 43 postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension to consume either 22g/day of freeze-dried highbush blueberry powder or a placebo.
The study found that consuming blueberry powder increased the concentration of polyphenol metabolites in the blood and improved endothelial function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Endothelial dysfunction is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and FMD is a measure of this dysfunction. The FMD was normalized to individual shear rate area under the curve (FMD/SRAUC) to account for inter-individual variability in reactive hyperemia-induced shear stress. The improvement in FMD was also found to be mediated, in part, by reduced oxidative stress in the women.
Blood pressure and arterial stiffness were unchanged with both groups, and compliance in both groups was high. The researchers concluded that consuming blueberries may have potential cardiovascular health benefits for postmenopausal women with above-normal blood pressure, which is a high-risk population for developing cardiovascular disease.
Overall, this study provides further evidence of the potential health benefits of blueberries and their polyphenols, particularly for improving endothelial function and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in high-risk populations. Further research is needed to confirm these findings but the initial findings appear promising.
Glycine could play a role in supporting mood
Researchers at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology have discovered how an amino acid may play a role in supprting mood and reducing feelings of depression. The discovery, which was reported by Medical News Today, was based on more than a decade's worth of research on brain cell signaling.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), depression affects approximately 21 million adults in the United States each year. The symptoms of depression include feeling sad regularly, feelings of emptiness, decreased energy, trouble sleeping, and thoughts of self-harm.
The researchers discovered a receptor called GPR158 and learned through studies that if a subject experienced suppression of that receptor, then it would be more resilient to stress-induced depression. The scientists were surprised to learn that glycine was an inhibitor and renamed it mGlyR (metabotropic glycine receptor). The discovery of mGlyR should open the doors to new research involving depression, which lead researcher Prof. Kirill Martemyanov plans to explore. Although depression is highly complex and involves multiple neural networks, Dr. Simon Faynboym highlighted the importance of this type of research saying, "This is why research articles like this one push the field of psychiatry further along, as it gives us another peak behind the curtain of the great unknown, which is the brain".
Study shows that vitamin C could support joint health
Researchers at the University of Minnesota conducted a phase II clinical study called the Hmong Microbiome and Gout, Obesity, Vitamin C (HMANGO-C) study to determine the effect of vitamin C on serum urate levels in Hmong adults with or without gout.
Gout is a common form of inflammtory arthitis, which causes sudden swelling and pain in a joint. The Hmong, a racial group originally from the Southwest of China, community residing in Minnesota has a higher prevalence of gout and uric acid renal stones compared to the non-Hmong population. The study, reported by News-Medical.Net, aims to explore the impact of vitamin C supplementation on serum urate levels and the interplay between vitamin C, gut health and gut microbiota, and serum urate-lowering effects. Moreover, the study investigated the relationship between weight management, gut microbiota, and gout.
The study utilised a community-based participatory research approach to evaluate the study question, enrolling 180 Hmong adults, including 120 with gout and 60 without gout. Participants were asked to orally consume 500 mg of vitamin C (capsule) twice daily for 8 weeks. Participants self-collected stool, urine, and saliva samples using the kits provided by researchers. The study findings will be shared with local physicians and pharmacists involved in the study, and the general audience will get to know about the study outcome through conferences and published articles. The study is expected to provide a better understanding of the utility of gut microbiota and genetic information in identifying high-risk gout patients who could benefit from vitamin C supplementation to support their joint health.
Share your thoughts
Agree with the findings in this week’s Nutrition News? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Alison is Director and Founder of Metabolics who writes about Metabolics updates, events and natural healthcare. Her experience and passion for natural supplements and healthcare comes from her years of experience as a practising osteopath, having founded Metabolics in her search for high quality, natural products in her own work. Alison has been a qualified and practising Osteopath since 1981 and regularly gives seminars on a range of healthcare subjects to the wider practitioner community helping share her knowledge and experience.
